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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: current · key · rock · mouse · present · fine · patient · band

  1. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. fine — high quality
  4. rock — a stone
  5. current — happening now
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. current — electric
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. present — there
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. band — a music group
  14. fine — all right
  15. key — for a lock
  16. band — a ring
  17. current — of water
  18. present — the time now
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. key — in music
  23. key — the most important part
  24. rock — music

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com